Knox College has announced its first-ever TEDx event on March 29, 2024, hosted in Harbach Theatre. Themed "Advocating for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging," the event will open with remarks by President C. Andrew McGadney, followed by seven speakers and a musical performance by the Cherry St. Combo.

Attendees can look forward to a rich exploration of topics, ranging from immigration history to school segregation. Speakers and topics include:

• "Listen: What the Music of US Immigrant History Can Tell Us about DEI Today" — Knox College Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Alyssa Mathias
• "To Be" — Undergraduate Student Jeremiah Martin
• "The Freedman’s Bank: Returning What has Been Lost" — Knox College Visiting Instructor in Economics Ely Fair
• "Virtual Theatre: Who is in the Audience?" — Director and Producer Joel Willison
• "The Trials and Tribulations of Leaving Your Country to Find Opportunities" — Undergraduate Student Diya Goyal
• "The Money is in the Hogs" — Monmouth College Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations Reginald Bell
• "The Stories We Tell: School Segregation in the Land of Lincoln" — Knox College Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Deirdre Dougherty

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets can be obtained through the TEDx Knox College website, and walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event if capacity allows.

"We are thrilled to launch the very first TEDx Knox College, dedicated to championing diversity, inclusion, and belonging,” event organizer and Visiting Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Huseyin Uysal said. “We aim to provide a platform here in Galesburg, where voices from all backgrounds are not just heard but celebrated. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to bring together great minds, foster meaningful dialogue, and ignite actionable change toward creating a more inclusive and equitable society.”